Talk:Dawn

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Is anyone going to support this "thread tradition" of dawn? If not, I move to delete it. --In Defense of the Artist 04:45, 13 March 2007 (UTC)

This seems to be an Islamic thing, from the Qur'an, on the start time of the fasting of Ramadan[1][2][3][4]. As for calling this "tradition", I do not think that this is justified.
Hence, I second your motion, and will remove this from the article. If someone else wants to reference this in this specific context, then they can put it back as appropriate.
Leevclarke 02:17, 21 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] conflicting definitions

I'm changing this language:

  • Astronomical dawn is the time at which the sun is 18 degrees below the horizon in the morning. Astronomical dawn is that point in time at which the sun starts lightening the sky. ...
  • Nautical dawn is the time at which the sun is 12 degrees below the horizon in the morning. Nautical dawn is defined as that time at which there is just enough sunlight for the horizon and some objects to be distinguishable.
  • Civil dawn is the time at which the sun is 6 degrees below the horizon in the morning. Civil dawn is defined as that time at which there is enough light for objects to be distinguishable and that outdoor activities can commence.

Each clause gives two definitions, which may be considered normally equivalent but not logically equivalent. Either of the two following paraphrases would make more sense:

  • Dawn is defined as the moment when the sun is N degrees below the horizon; at that time there is usually enough light, bla bla.
  • Dawn is defined as the moment at which a specified amount of light is present; this usually occurs when the sun is N degrees below the horizon.

The first is formal and measurable, the second is subject to judgement, so I'm assuming the first definition is more correct and rewriting the passage accordingly. —Tamfang 05:22, 7 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] As a female name and folklore

I'm removing this little bit because it sounds like a line out of a sci-fi or fantasy novel, Dawn is a name given to women so they can protect people from monsters? Outside of the Buffyverse people are given the name Dawn because its pretty, because its symbolizes the love a parent feels for the new life and the changes she or he brings, not because they want vampire or troll killers. Any author who uses the name acts as an idividual and chooses the name for some form of irony or symbolism, as such it has nothing to do with Folklore anymore than Dragonlance's Paladine has to do with actual historic paladins. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.137.207.191 (talk) 03:32, 21 May 2008 (UTC)

I also fail to see why only Western folklore is mentioned, I can think of a few Japanese and Chinese Ghosts and Vampires (or similar things best described as such in this language) that are non to light friendly. And vampires and trolls are pre-Christian, Christ is not mentioned at all, why is it needed to say non Christians believed similar, Christians came and merged with these believes, its more appropriate to say Christians believe the same. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.137.207.191 (talk) 03:37, 21 May 2008 (UTC)
And the explanation "beings creatures of darkness" sounds like it was given out by a narrowminded Priest. Odin is not much farther from darkness than a troll, the ice lady in Japanese folklore disliked the sun because it made her melt, demons because the Sun was a literal symbol of God, several angels had cognomen that refered to the sun, the Morningstar, Sword of Flame, Lucifer (latin for bringer of light).